Former Top 10 player Andrea Petkovic announces retirement from tennis

The former world No 9, whose Petko dance made her a crowd favourite, is bidding farewell to the sport

Andrea Petkovic at the 2022 French Open Image Credit: AI/ Reuters/ Panoramic

August 29, 2022

Germnay’s Andrea Petkovic has announced her retirement from professional tennis, two weeks before her 35th birthday.

The former world No 9 has left the possibility open of playing a tournament in Europe later in the year but said that for all practical purposes the US Open, which kicks off today in New York, will be her final tournament.

“I still leave the option open to attach a tournament in Europe that is a bit closer to my family and friends – but in general this is my last tournament,” Petkovic said in an interview with a German television show in New York. “Maybe it’s already over here in New York.”

Currently ranked No 104 in the world, Petkovic plays 13th seeded Belinda Bencic in the first round of the US Open.

Petkovic, whose celebratory dance moves known as the ‘Petko dance’ on court made her a popular figure among tennis fans, won 7 WTA singles titles in her career. She also reached the semi-finals of the French Open in 2014. She also reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and US Open in 2011.

Get the Petko party started! First W, first dance for our tournament ambassador! 💃🏻

📹: @WTA | @andreapetkovic pic.twitter.com/to3Odb4a47
— Hamburg European Open 〽️ (@hamburgopen) July 18, 2022

As part of the German team, she also reached the final of the Fed Cup in 2014 and won over $8.7 million in career prize money.

In recent years, as she took time off due to injuries, Petkovic worked as a presenter for ZDF and also authored a book “Zwischen Ruhm und Ehre liegt die Nacht” in 2020.